Chris Christie: “I’m a damn good Republican”

posted at 1:21 pm on May 10, 2013 by Erika Johnsen

Yesterday, Ed predicted that, if/when Christie decides to throw his hat into the 2016 presidential ring, it’s definitely not going to be a cake walk for him. His gubernatorial election this November looks like it’s going to be a blowout, barring any crazy incidents, but all of that northeastern, oh-so-moderate centrism may be a tougher sell nationally after Massachusetts Republican Mitt Romney’s failed bid. What’s more, though he’ll almost certainly try to shift rightwards at least a little after his election, conservatives might not be so easily mollified, and although he’s certainly got the media star-power, he’s going to have some serious competition from a deep bench of conservative up-and-comers like Scott Walker.

Christie, however, is apparently feeling pretty good about the whole thing (not that he’d say anything else at this point), via Mediaite:

Williams asked Christie if he does decide to run in 2016, “what Republican Party do you see that would support your candidacy right now? How would you survive a primary process in the current set up of the Republican Party?”

Christie did not indicate whether or not he would run, but he did attempt to affirm his conservative credentials. “I’m a damn good Republican,” he said. “But that does not mean that I would ever put a party before my state or a party before my country.”

Blowback

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I still don’t think he runs, but I wonder where party stalwarts would fall if both he and Rubio do. You also have the possibility of of Rubio, Paul, and someone else (Cruz, maybe) splitting up the vote to allow Christie to grab it.

I’m still guessing that if he runs it will be as a third-party candidate. Too squishy on social issues to attract Republicans. Not enough of a spendthrift to attract Dems. But he could well attract enough stupid people to make it a successful run.

Over in NJ 13 we’re going to give Christie’s machine a run for its money. In spite of a “no challenges” edict quietly handed down, Republicans for Conservative Leadership is primarying several of the entrenched lifers in State and County government. The PJ Tatler reporter on the top of the ticket, Leigh-Ann Bellew, on April 29.

Gov. Christie is a good Republican–for New Jersey. His willingness to impose fiscal discipline was a welcome change from Lost-a-Billion Corzine and Gay American McGreevy, so he gets support from lots of independent, persuadable voters in New Jersey, where his brash speaking style fits in with the mindset of most New Jersey voters.

Gov. Christie is not a good Republican candidate for President. To win the Presidency, a candidate must win states like Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Colorado, where voters are more conservative, and might be turned off by Christie’s bluntness, where Scott Walker’s policies and speaking style would be better appreciated. I’m not saying that Scott Walker is our best candidate in 2016 (lots of things can happen between now and then), but Christie should focus on his state, not the Presidency.

I would not likely support a national candidacy for Mr Christie if one viable conservative were to run against him, but lets leave the “jokes” about his weight to the people I would expect that from, the Left.

You’re doing a good job in NJ. Stay a while and keep making them more financially stable. You won’t appeal to anyone outside of the tri-state area, and even they will vote for the declared Democrat instead of the Democrat-lite.

I still don’t think he runs, but I wonder where party stalwarts would fall if both he and Rubio do. You also have the possibility of of Rubio, Paul, and someone else (Cruz, maybe) splitting up the vote to allow Christie to grab it.

changer1701 on May 10, 2013 at 1:30 PM

With Rubio…. Or shudders… Jeb Bush…. Christie’s main crime is against the establishment Republicans who he gleefully threw under the bus in October.

I still don’t think he runs, but I wonder where party stalwarts would fall if both he and Rubio do. You also have the possibility of of Rubio, Paul, and someone else (Cruz, maybe) splitting up the vote to allow Christie to grab it.

changer1701 on May 10, 2013 at 1:30 PM

With Rubio…. Or shudders… Jeb Bush…. Christie’s main crime is against the establishment Republicans who he gleefully threw under the bus in October.

Illinidiva on May 10, 2013 at 2:21 PM

Rubio threw the tea party, and other conservatives that helped get him elected, under the bus for John McCain and illegal aliens, so there’s that.

By East Coast standards Cristie may be a good Republican. I just wish people would stop trying to sell him as a Conservative. He may have some conservative positions but IMO he is a regular Republican who would throw the Right wing of the GOP under the bus if he was sure he could attract more Independents.

Don’t want to be a fat man,
People would think that I was
Just good fun.
Would rather be a thin man,
I am so glad to go on being one.
Too much to carry around with you,
No chance of finding a woman who
Will love you in the morning and all the night time too.
- Jethro Tull

Besides, what’s he doing to expand conservatism throughout the state? A good leader not only leads, but he builds the structure of the organization to succeed him. Are Republicans winning lower level offices in NJ? Are they taking over county seats, town seats, and the legislature? Is the state turning purple? Its not enough to win elections. We have to hold the offices through the cycles, to implement lasting change.
And its not just Christie. Is Jindal doing this? Perry? In NY we saw Pataki and Guilliani did nothing to expand conservatism or Republicans in the state, and after they were gone, the libs just moved right back in.

Yeah they’re playing that nonsense during Rush here in NW Oregon. Several times today and earlier in the week. I thought it was some Rush parody first time I heard it. Rubio is a joke. The national convention last year telegraphed how the GOP was going to treat conservatives/tea party and anyone not dancing a beltway tune.